A great company with a long history of success. All the opportunity is in your hands. - Civil Engineer DOWL Employee Review

5.0
Nov 18, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The opportunities are endless at DOWL HKM. The more you put into your job, the more you get out of it. Nice work environment, experienced staff, interesting projects, room for advancement. DOWL HKM is a career, not a job.

Cons

With a medium sized company, sometimes things aren’t as quick to change as a smaller company. More standards and protocols are needed to make the business function properly, but they can slow things down.

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DOWL Response
10y
This is a great point and thanks for making it. We like to focus less on providing jobs (you can get one of those almost anywhere). We provide opportunities to add value and be part of a team that is improving the world and working with great clients in the best communities. We do have a few more checks and balances and policies and procedures then when I started with the company in 1994. But at DOWL we often talk about thinking big, and acting small. I might concur that we are patient (maybe overly so) with those on our roster that struggle to get their footing at DOWL. We would rather err on that side, then on the side of harshness and impatience in matters relating to employee relations.

Explore other reviews about DOWL

5.0
Dec 5, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The company attracts highly talented and knowledgeable engineers and project managers. The peer mentorship is invaluable. The benefits package is competitive, particularly the 401(k) match and health insurance options. There's a lot of flexibility in working arrangements and hours, which is helpful for personal scheduling. Clear opportunities for career growth and advancement if you demonstrate initiative.

Cons

The company could benefit from more standardized knowledge-sharing protocols between different departments and geographic locations.

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DOWL Response
6mo
I’m so glad to hear you are using some of DOWL’s programs to your advantage and your career is being supported by some of our great people. You’ll be happy to know that we plan to expand on our supervisor/leadership and project manager training in the coming year! We try and keep the whole company apprised of high-level goings on through intranet posts and all-staff meetings, among other things. Our market sectors get a lot of autonomy, which is important for those groups to be able to run their corners of the business, but can sometimes lead to gaps in communication. Be sure to talk with your supervisor or office manager if there are specific things you wish were better communicated between departments or geographies. These dots can sometimes be connected by regular office or market sector meetings where the larger group can discuss what they’re up to.
2.0
May 27, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Met some great people that I am still in contact with - Learned new skills

Cons

- Bad management. When I told my supervisor that I was burnt out, I was told to "Smile through it" and "Be happy that I'm not working 60 hours a week like other departments. - No room to grow at all unless you are an engineer.

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DOWL Response
3w
I agree – we have great people at DOWL! As with most consultancies, our project workload does occasionally necessitate putting in additional hours so we can meet our clients’ needs. I’m sorry you feel your manager did not work with you to take advantage of some our flexible work options or coordinate workshare. The facts do not support your claim that you cannot grow unless you are an engineer. We have many people in leadership roles who do not have PEs, including Practice Area Leaders, Board Members, and most of our C-suite staff.
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